Summer Vacation Placement Review

I really enjoyed the insight at Gateley Legal. The 2-week insight was not only about working. It involved social networking activities across different offices, overviews for different departments as well as group activities. It was engaging and rewarding - it provided insight into Gateley as a company, daily work at Gateley Legal and opportunities to meet people across the company.

I felt valued during the time at Gateley Legal. I was trusted with work, brought to meetings with the team I worked with and shared insights and knowledge. I was also involved in the preparation for a charity fund raising where we prepared drinks and food and pushed a trolley to sell in the company.

Both the legal teams and the business support team were very supportive and provided sufficient guidance throughout the two weeks' time. We were encouraged to use all the resources available and seek all the help we could get. The Marketing team provided valuable ideas to help us with preparation for a pitch, as part of the insight assessment.

The insight helped me enhance my skills in many aspects, including teamwork skills, communication and interpersonal skills, organising and prioritising skills, legal research and legal drafting skills, etc. These are all important skills for my future study and career development which I could benefit from. I am glad that I had the opportunity to stretch my skills a bit further.

The insight was structured well. As mentioned earlier, it was not only about working on matters. It involved social networking activities across different offices, overviews for different departments as well as group activities. Schedules were carefully planned and handed out on the first day so that we all knew what to expect. The combination of various activities made the insight engaging and interesting.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that people are all really friendly and supportive. Everybody was approachable and easy-going. I could have a chat with anyone in the firm and seek for help from all levels of staff. The friendly and warm atmosphere made me willing to approach people and learn more.

Gateley really made efforts to engage all the insight students during the 2 weeks' period. Training on the system and insights into the company were provided and supports and resources were made available. However it was only a 2-week insight, so investments could be limited due to limitation of time.

The insight was a true reflection of a full time role at Gateley. We were involved in meetings, group activities and social life of the company. We had also been working on real matters the company had been working on. Therefore it helped me to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company to the largest extent.

The insight helped me greatly in understanding the company's culture. By spending two weeks working and socialising with people at the company, I came to know what the company's culture is like.

The content of the insight was extremely valuable in helping me to decide on my future career path. After a two-week engaging, challenging and rewarding placement, I obtained legal knowledge, polished my skills in various aspects and gained insights into the company's culture. More importantly, I was offered a training contract with the company, which will be a milestone for my future career path.

There had been more than 3 social networking opportunities in two weeks' time of the placement. Getting engaged with people working at the company and getting to know their work, what their interests and hobbies are and how they strike a balance between work and life had been inspiring. I was very satisfied with the opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company.